They’re back! Following a season marked by a 56-26 record in the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season and a loss in the Western Conference Finals versus Dallas, the Minnesota Timberwolves tipped off the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, Oct. 22. With high expectations and a busy offseason, here’s a season preview for the Timberwolves.
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly was active this offseason. In June, Connelly surprised everyone by moving up 19 spots to select dynamic guard Rob Dillingham eighth overall in the NBA Draft. While Dillingham is an exciting prospect, the biggest offseason splash was in September, when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Wolves traded away Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Drafted first overall in 2015 by Minnesota, Towns spent nine seasons with the Wolves, becoming a four-time NBA All-Star in the process. Much of the Wolves’ fanbase was upset over the trade, but the financial implications of Towns’ departure will benefit the Wolves’ long-term success. DiVincenzo and Randle are also interesting additions. DiVincenzo will add much-needed shooting ability to the Wolves’ bench unit as one of the premier three-point shooters in the NBA. Randle, a three-time All-Star in the past four seasons, has dealt with injuries and inconsistencies, but can be a significant contributor on offense.
If we learned anything from last season, it’s that Anthony Edwards is a superstar. In his fourth season, Edwards averaged 25.9 points per game and made the All-NBA Second Team. His impact, however, goes beyond the box score. Edwards’ competitiveness and defensive intensity have transformed the culture of Timberwolves basketball. Anchored by Edwards, 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, and All-Defensive Second teamer Jaden McDaniels, the Wolves had the best defensive rating in the NBA last season. The defense should be as good, if not better, than last year as the Wolves’ young core continues to develop. With Towns’ departure, the Wolves will hope that McDaniels continues to develop his offensive game; if he does, look out for a breakout season. Finally, mentioning Naz Reid is a must. A fan favorite and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Reid continues to blossom as a scorer and energizer. Alongside Julius Randle, the Wolves will look to replace Towns’ offensive output through committee.
With the Western Conference as stacked as ever, the Wolves will endure a gauntlet of a schedule. But, they’ve been here before. While coming up short in the playoffs last season, the Timberwolves proved they are one of the teams to beat in the NBA. Losing Karl-Anthony Towns will certainly change the team’s dynamic, but the young nucleus of Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid, plus the additions of Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle make the team a title favorite. Will they break the Minnesota men’s sports curse? We’ll see. Nevertheless, here’s a regular season prediction: Timberwolves go 59-23, finishing 2nd in the Western Conference.
